Va. man surrenders after 16-hour standoff

By
Washington Post Editors

Updated, 10:23 p.m.

An Arlington County man who police said brandished a rifle at a neighbor Friday and then holed up in his house for 16 hours surrendered Saturday morning.

Arlington County Detective Crystal Nosal said the man got into an argument with a neighbor at 6:45 p.m. in the 1500 block of South Nelson Street. The man took a rifle to the neighbor's house and pounded on the door, Nosal said. The neighbor felt threatened and called police.

Police arrived and reached the suspect by phone. When he refused to come out, a negotiator was called in and, because there was no one else inside the home, police decided to wait the man out. Alexandria’s emergency response team relieved Arlington police for a time, Nosal said.

She said the man surrendered at 11:20 a.m. Saturday and street closures were lifted.

Police said Thomas Amshey, 58, of Arlington, was charged with assault, brandishing a firearm and obstruction of justice.